Cartons



D. LEVKOFF April 7, 1959 CARTONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1956 INVENTOR. David Levkof 979 Attorney ted S a tent I 2,330,923 CARTONS 1 Appl es... May 1, 1956, Serial No. 583,064 'lClaiins. l. 129-31) l This invention relates to cartons, and particularly to those of tray-like form, such as are widelytusedatthe present time for containing vegetables, fruits, baked goods, candies and many other products. L y 'It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a carton or tray of this character which will securely hold and protect its contents while permitting a maximum of visual exposure of'the contents to thereby enable the. same to be examined while remaining in the carton.

'It is another object of the invention to provide a tray or carton of this kind which will be provided with double-thickness-side walls of hollow formation, so that such walls will serve to cushion and protect the contents. It is an object of the invention to provide a double-walled tray or carton so constructed that inclination or deflec tion of portions of the inner side walls may be had under pressure of the contents, without causing distortion of the-outer side walls, whereby the carton will always, and regardless of variation in the shape and size of the contents of the same, be undistorted and of uniform outer:

appearance.

Itis still another object of the invention to provide a so-called bottomless type of carton, in which the con! tents can be supported solely by parts of the sidewalls, andwhich parts of the walls shall be capable of inclining movement to accommodate the contents withoutcausing material distortion of the carton body.

With these, and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein two embodiments of the inventionare illustratively disclosed,

Fig. 1 is a face view, looking at the inside face, of a blank from which one embodimentof the invention is made;

Fig. 2 shows the blank in its folded, glued and flattened condition as delivered to the user;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in perspective carton produced from the blank of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view through the carton, showing how articles placed in the carton are supported and are cushioned by the side walls of the carton;

Fig. 6 is a face view, looking at the inside face, of a blank from which a second embodiment of the invention is made; 1

Fig. 7 shows the blank of Fig. 6 in its folded, glued and flattened condition as delivered to the user; 7

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a portion of the carton produced from the blank of Fig. 6; 1

Fig. 9 is a sectional view in perspective of a portion ofthe carton produced from the blank-of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view, taken substantially onthe line 10-10 of'Fig. 9, lookingv in the direction of the arrows.-

- Referring to through a drawings, and more particularly to 2 Fig. 1 thereof, wherein is shown a blank from which one of theernbodiments of the invention is made. vTherein, I in'dicates a central panel which, in the "erected carton-,forms 'the bottom of the same. The bottom 1: is defined by the longitudinally-extending parallel fold .lines 2-and 3' and atits opposite ends by the transverse fold lines indicated respectively at 4 and 5. At one end, the bottom panel isextended integrally to form an outer end w-all 6 and at its opposite end it is extended beyond the"v fold line 4 to'form a similar opposite outer end wall:7.. 1-

. x t Y Extending centrally and longitudinally through the bottomlpanel 1', is a lengthy slit 8, which extends for the greater portion of the panel, and at the opposite ends of the lengthyslit 8 are located the transverse slits indicatedrespectively at 9 and 10. This arrangement of the slits 8, 9 and 10 results in the formation of a pair of similar-lengthywings 11 and 12 which, when folded to erect orupstanding position as shown in Fig. 3, form the inner side walls of the carton. To assume this erect'or upstanding position, the wing 11 is folded on the fold line 13 whichextendsbetween and connects the ends of the slits 9 and IBM-Similarly, the wing 12 is folded to erect or upstanding position on the fold line 14 which extends between and connects the second ends of the slits 9 and 10.

Beyond the fold line 2 is provided a panel 15 which forms one of the outer side walls of the carton. Said panellS is slit inwardly from its free edge, as indicated at 16 and 17, thereby providing a foldable flap 18 between said slitsv Extending between the slits 16 and 17 and through the flap 18 are the two longitudinally-extending parallel fold lines 19 and 20. When the fiap 18 is foldedupon these fold lines 19 and 20, theportion of the-panel that is located between these fold lines forms a horizontalshoulderorledge 30, while beyond the fold line 20..is-providedan upstanding attaching strip indicatedat 31 which .is adhesivelyattached tothe marginal upper edge portion. of the erect or upstanding inner side wall 11, as clearly seen in Fig. 3.

Located beyond the fold line 5 is a web 32, said web being located between the end of panel 15 and one of the edges of outer end wall 6. The web is foldable on the diagonal fold line 33 and is provided with an extended fastening tabindicated at 34. Extending from the web 32 is a locking flap 35 which is foldable on the line 36 to extend it downwardly to bring the end into the slit 37 located on the fold line 5. The opposite end of the panel 15 is provided with a similar web 32, tab 34, fold lines 33 and 36 and locking flap 35, and said partsv are designated by reference numerals similar to those borne by like parts at the opposite end 'ofthe blank 1 ,Beyond the longitudinal fold line 3, is a panel 21 constituting the "second outer side wall of the carton. Said panel'21 is. provided with the spaced notches indicated respectively at 22 and 23, and located between these notches is a .flap portion 24 which is foldable on the parallel fold lines 25 and 26. This results in the production ofa shoulder or horizontal ledge 30a between said fold lines, and in the formation of an upstanding securing strip ,38 which is adhesively secured to the upper marginal edge portion of the wing 12, substantially as shown in Fig. 3. -At each end, thepanel or outer side wall 21 is formed with a web 40, somewhat similar to the web 32; a diagonal fold line 41; tab portion 42 and-locking flap 43 downwardly foldable on the fold line 44 to enable its end to be fitted into the slit 37:

The form in which the carton is presented to the user or consumer is shown in Figs. 3 and'4, wherein it will be noted that-the blank'has been folded on the longitu- Fatented Apr. 7, 1959' outer side walls 15 and 21 into facial contact with the bottom panel 1. Prior to this folding operation, adhesive was applied to the marginal edges of the flap 18, as indicated at 45, and adhesive was also applied to the marginal edge portion of the flap 24, as indicated at 46. By the folding operation just mentioned, the part 31 of flap 18 will be caused to adhere to the marginal edge of wing 11. Similarly, the adhesive 46 applied to the marginal edge of the fiap 24 will attach the part 38 of said flap to the marginal edge of the wing 12. The tabs 34 and 42 are also facially connected adhesively or otherwise, the blank assuming the condition shown in Fig. 2 and being in readiness for erection to the positionshown in Figs. 3 and 4.

To crector set up the carton to position of use, the end portions of the blank are folded inwardly on the foldlines 4 and 5, and the diagonal fold lines 33 and 41 will cause the side walls 15 and 21 to simultaneouslyrise to vertical position. The adhesive connection be-. tween the strip portion 18 and wing 11, as well as the adhesive connection between the strip portion 38 and wing 12, will cause the wings 11 and 12 to be pivoted upwardly by the vertical movement of the side walls and they will thus rise to vertical position as shown in Fig. 3. The adhesively-connected locking flap elements 35 and 43 at each end of the carton are folded down on the fold lines 36 and 44 and the ends of these flap elements are inserted in the slits 37. The result is that there is provided on the carton, and extending for the greater portion of the body of the carton, a pair of hollow side walls of box formation, producing not only a very strong side wall construction, but one which cushions and protects the contents of the carton.

Since it is often desirable, with cartons of this character, to provide as much visibility or exposure of the contents as possible, the production of the inner side walls by means of the wings 11 and 12 from the bottom panel 1 of the carton, results in a lengthy opening in the bottom, so that a bottomless effect is attained. This enables the bottoms of the goods contained in the car ton to be examined through the transparent wrapping in which these cartons are generally enveloped. Since the carton is, at least for the greater portion of its length, substantially bottomless, the goods contained within the carton are arranged to be supported solely by the side walls, substantially as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 5. Therein, a substantially globular article 90, such as a tomato for example, rests between the two side walls and is supported by the inner walls 11 and12, which can, if necessary, incline or diverge under pressure of the article. As indicated in Fig. 5, this inclination of the inner side walls 11 and 12 can take place without causing inclination or angularity of the outer side walls 15 and 21, due to the employment of the ledges or shoulders 30 and 30a between the inner and outer side walls, such ledges readily assuming the required angle of inclination according to the amount of pressure imposed against the said inner side walls by the contents of the carton. This arrangement not only enables the side walls of the carton to adapt themselves to articles of varying shapes and sizes but causes the side walls to have a cushioning effect on the contents to protect the same. At the same time, while the inner walls may incline under pressure of the carton contents, the outer side walls will remain straight and vertical so that the exteriorshape and appearance of the carton as a whole will remain uniform.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to inclusive, the central panel shown in the blank of Fig. 6 is centrally and longitudinally slotted as indicated at 56 to thereby divide the panel into a pair of outer side walls indicated respectively at 57 and 58. At each end of the panel 51. beyond the transverse fold lines 54, 54 is provided a web 59, foldable diagonally from the opposite ends of the transverse slit 60, and on the fold line 61. A locking flap 62 constitutes a continuation of the web 59, the end of said locking fiap being received in the registered slits 64 and 65. The bottom of the carton of this embodiment is formed by the panels generally indicated at 66 and 67, panel 66 being located beyond the fold line 52 and being split inwardly and angularly as shown by the slits 68 and 69, the portion of the panel between these slits constituting a flap 70 adapted to form an inner side wall as well as to produce an attaching strip by means of which it is adhesively secured to outer wall 58. The ends of the slits 68 and 69 are connected by the fold line 71, and the fiap 70 is provided with the parallel fold lines indicated at 72 and 73, defining an area 75 between them which forms a shoulder or ledge as clearly seen in Figs. 9 and 10. The flap 70 is also slit in the manner clearly shown to provide a tab 74 which assumes an upstanding position, also as clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Beyond the fold line 53 is the panel 76 which is slit as indicated at 6812 and 69a to form the panel 77, the same being provided with the fold lines indicated at 71a, 72a and 73a corresponding to the similar fold lines appearing on flap 70. A tab portion 74a, similar to that shown at 74 is provided in the flap 77. At the ends of the panels 66 and 67 are provided flaps and 81 which are glued in overlapped relationship by means of the adhesive applied as indicated at 82.

The carton produced from the blank of Fig. 6 is supplied to the consumer as shown in Fig. 7, wherein it will be noted that the blank has been folded on the fold lines 52 and 53, as well as on the fold lines 73 and 73a. Flaps 80 and 81 have been glued in overlying relation, and glue applied in the strip portion 83 of flap 70, and which strip portion is defined by the fold line 73 and the edge of the flap, attaches this portion of the flap 70 to the inside face of the outer end wall 51. Similarly, glue applied to the strip portion 83a of the flap 77, attaches this strip portion to the inside face of the outer side wall 58.

To erect this carton, the ends of the same are folded inwardly on fold lines 54, 54 causing webs 59 to fold on the diagonal fold lines 61, thus bringing the outer side walls 56 and 58 to erect or vertical position. As these outer side Walls rise, the adhesive connection between them and the strip portions 83 and 83a of the flaps 70 and 77 causes these flaps to be also brought to vertical position, resulting in the structure of Fig. 9. The arrangement is such that box-like double side walls are provided. The locking flaps 62 are folded down on the lines 63 and their ends engaged with the slits 64, 65 as shown in Fig. 9. In this carton, double-walled sides are provided which operate substantially as described in connection with the first embodiment. The inner side walls in both embodiments can, if necessary be apertured to suitably engage with goods placed within the carton.

Having described two embodiments of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A carton having a bottom, end walls and outer side walls, the bottom having a longitudinally-extending central slit and having transversely-extending slits at the opposite ends of said longitudinal slit to thereby provide a pair of wings out of said bottom, said wings being foldable upwardly to vertical position to form inner side walls for the carton, the outer side walls extending upwardly and then bent inwardly to form horizontal shoulders having parts extending from said shoulders forming marginal strip portions adhesively attached to the upper edge portions of the wings.

2. A carton having a bottom panel formed with a central opening, the material displaced by the formation of the opening being directed upwardly within the carton and forming a pair of spaced-apart inner side walls, the carton having outer side walls and end walls, the outer side walls extending upwardly from the bottom and being spaced from the inner side walls, each of the outer side walls being folded on parallel lines to provide it at the top with a horizontal ledge and with an upstanding fastening strip extending from the ledge, said fastening strip being adhesively attached to the upper portion of one of the inner side walls.

3. In a carton as provided for in claim 2, wherein the inner side walls are pivotal at their lower ends to permit outward angular spreading movement of said inner side walls under pressure of the carton contents and without altering the angular positions of the portions of the outer side walls which are located below the ledge.

4. A carton having a body formed with outer side walls, end Walls and a bottom, the outer side walls being each longitudinally scored on parallel lines and folded thereon to form a horizontal ledge and an upstanding strip portion, the bottom being provided with a central opening having its side edges defined by vertically-disposed upstanding wings, each of said wings having its upper edge area adhesively attached to the upstanding strip portion of the adjacent outer side wall.

5. A carton having outer side walls, end walls and a bottom, the bottom having a central opening, the material displaced from the opening in the bottom being directed upwardly in the form of a pair of spaced, vertical inner walls, the outer side walls being each formed with a horizontal ledge, and each of said outer side walls having a vertical portion located above the ledge and attached to an inner side wall.

6. In a carton, a bottom provided with wings directed vertically to form a pair of spaced, upstanding inner side walls for the carton, said wings being formed from material displaced from said bottom, outer side walls extending upwardly from the bottom, a ledge formed between the inner and outer side wall in each pair, a fastening strip at the inner end of the ledge for attaching each inner side wall to an outer side wall, the co-operating inner and outer side walls, lrottom and ledge providing a box-like side wall structure along each side of the carton wherein each inner side wall is capable of angular movement under pressure of box contents without materially altering the vertical position of the adjacent outer side wall.

7. A carton blank longitudinally scored on parallel lines to thereby divide it into a central panel and a pair of side panels, the central panel being split centrally and longitudinally and being also slit transversely at the opposite ends of the central longitudinal split, the longitudinal split and end slits defining inner side walls, a pair of parallel score lines extending parallel to the central split, with one of each of said score lines located on each side of the central split in the central panel, said score lines terminating at the transverse slits therein, end walls formed at the opposite ends of the central panel, each of the side panels being split inwardly from its longitudinal edge at spaced-apart points on said edge to thereby form a flap portion between its splits provided with parallel score lines on which it is foldable inwardly and upwardly to form a ledge and to form a securing strip extending from the ledge for adhesive attachment to one of the inner side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,354,344 Scott Sept. 28, 1920 2,118,821 Ringler May 31, 1938 2,130,602 Smith Sept. 20, 1938 2,493,189 Frankstein Jan. 3, 1950 2,494,234 Frankenstein Jan. 10, 1950 2,591,500 Bloomer Apr. 1, 1952 2,750,098 Levkoif June 12, 1956 2,827,220 Levkofi Mar. 18, 1958 

